Today marked the middle-point of Camp – by night-time, four days gone and four to go. Aside from the Corps of Drums (for whom this was their Adventurous Training Day) and the Adult Instructors (for whom this was the dreaded Assessment Day), the main theme of the day was the cycling around of training cadres, two of whom – the Two Star Training and Assessment cadres – came to the end of their Fieldcraft sessions, as evidenced by the multiple blank-firing exercises erupting across the training area, as Cadet patrols bumped against their adult instructors, now playing the part of the villainous enemy with a frequently dubious dress-sense.

As these exercises drew to a close, the Three and Four Star cadres were preparing their Cadets for a deployment into the field in the late afternoon, where they will live for the next two nights, under shelters they were completing as the light faded.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet

The third day of our Annual Camp saw training cadres all around Crowborough Camp and beyond as the tempo of Camp began to rise.

Decidedly out of Camp were the two Two Star cadres, who had moved out onto the training area last night and had spent the night in shelters they had rigged for themselves. Despite the brief excitement of a pre-dawn shower, this had passed by breakfast time (at least breakfast time for normal folks not wearing camouflage gear and practicing more war-like regimes), and the remainder of the day was warm and sunny. One of the Three Star cadres, along with the Four Stars had meanwhile moved to the adventurous training site some 40 minutes up the road, spending the morning falling into a lake, or causing others to do so, all in the name of canoeing and raft-building; the afternoon was spent biking and orienteering.

The remaining Three Star Cadre had spent part of the morning in Camp, only to mount their Great Escape later, disguised as a Navigation Exercise, returning to camp before they got too hungry. Following the previous day’s shooting practice, the Corps of Drums spent several hours on Tuesday on band practice, whilst the Adult’s training cadre took their place on the 25m and Shotgun ranges, supervised by the County Shooting Officer, Lt Paul Anderton and his increasingly veteran team of coaches, some recently returned from national competition at Bisley. The adults had the opportunity to develop their own marksmanship skills, whilst coaching each other. In a few months’ time, they’ll be passing these skills on to Cadets.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet

The idea of training by cadres might be new to the County, but what has remained unchanged on this first training day has been the energy and determination shown by all, Cadets and staff alike. Most remained in the Camp – though that will very quickly change as huddles of Cadets went through the age-old routine of preparing to go into the field by packing, unpacking and then re-packing again to ensure that they have what they need and know which pocket or pouch of waterproof bag to find it in; even though this was a glorious day, these are the older, more experienced Cadets and they know how fickle “Exercise Weather” can be.

This is an outline of what happened today:

The Two Star Cadets – two groups of them, one training, one being assessed for their Two Star awards – spent most of the day preparing to go into the field, liberally supplied with water, sun tan cream and insect repellent

The Three Star Training cadre spent a happy day on adventurous training, including canoeing, managing to press-gang one of the Press Team into a boat, which even stayed upright

The Three Star Assessment cadre spent their day trying to remember how to navigate in sunny conditions, where they can actually see the terrain unimpeded by cloud and mist

Four Star Cadets spent their time going through Fieldcraft skills including the delivery of Orders

The Corps of Drums meanwhile spent their day on the 25m Range, being assessed on their marksmanship skills.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet

“The Training Event” of the year has once more come around! GMACF has set up Annual Camp at Crowborough in East Sussex. After a day’s sometimes fraught travel on the country’s motorways, everyone has arrived safely in Camp and the initial settling in and muster parade are behind us.

This year’s Camp will be conducted to an entirely new formula. First off, it will be to a shortened, eight-day format, secondly, we are without our newest Cadets (our training One-Stars, who camped earlier in the year, at Easter), and finally, rather than training by Companies, we’re training by Cadres. Each training cadre is focusing on a particular level of skill or qualification and the Cadets in each cadre are drawn from all over Greater Manchester, so that it will be a completely new experience, giving everyone the chance to make new friends and develop their general Cadet skills, and their leadership skills, because this is very much a camp for potential and current junior Cadet JNCOs.

The Cadet training cadres are:

Two Star

Three Star

Four Star – preparing them especially for the most challenging of the ACF external courses, the Senior Cadet Instructors’ Course, the Cadet Leadership Course and the Master Cadet Course

The Corps of Drums – who in addition to their musical skills, will also undergo other forms of training including a range practice

And, behind the scenes – at least for now – is a training cadre for future Adult Instructors.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet

Editor’s Note:This year marked the 148th running of the Cadet Imperial Competition. In its current format, it is open to Cadets aged 14 or 15, senior Cadets who may be about to move on to become Cadet Force Adult Volunteers (CFAVs) and CFAVs seeking to improve their own target shooting skills. The event lasts a week, during which competitors fire at 300, 600, 800 and 900 yards using the bolt-action L81A2 Cadet Target Rifle.

Corporal Marsland takes over the story:

Cadet L/Cpl Marsland at Bisley earlier this year.

From the 9th July, I took part in the Cadet Imperial 2017.On arrival, we were allocated our rooms, told the timings for the following day and then left to sort our own kit and to get to know the people we were staying with for the next two weeks. The Cadets around me came from all over the United Kingdom and from the CCF and Air Cadets as well as the Army Cadet Force.

We began our practice shoots on the 10th, as the competitions started on the 14th. The 13th was set aside as a rest day after two solid days shooting.

From the 14th onwards, we took part in different competitions, shooting at 300, 500 and 600 yards. On the 18th we had the experience of shooting long distance out to 900 yards, a much greater range than most people ever shoot at.

This was the second time I had attended Bisley, but it was still a whole new experience as the previous time I had fired the L98A2 cadet rifle, whereas this time I was shooting the L81 target rifle. During the course of the week, I learned how to shoot alongside three other people in my lane and to self-coach, trying to judge the wind correctly, adjusting the sights correctly as well as other skills to get the bullet on target.

While doing the Cadet Imperial, I met and made friends with people from different places all over Great Britain. I really enjoyed taking part in the event and I would recommend it to anyone who gets the chance.

L/Cpl Marsland and the GMACF Target Rifle Team at Bisley 2017

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet

On 15th June 2017 the Reddish Detachment was presented with a replica of a Great War tank by Stockport Engineering Training Association (SETA) to mark the centenary of the introduction of the first tanks into the British Army at the Battles of the Somme (1916) and Cambrai (1917).

We were also visited by 35 veterans alongside Colonel Irvine, County Commandant of Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force.

One of our Cadet JNCOs, Corporal Ebbrell took the parade and did an amazing job, as did our Detachment Commander, Colour Sergeant Mark Woodward, responsible for organising the entire night.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet

Two of Somme Company’s most experienced Cadets recently received well-earned promotions, described by their Company Commander, as “Two of the most talented young people I have ever met in Cadet Force and well-deserving of their awards”. They were:-

Cadet Colour Sergeant Emily Hoyle of Levenshulme Detachment, who was receiving her 4 Star Certificate and was also appointed 3 Company Cadet CSM

Cadet Colour Sergeant Joe Cumston from Bredbury Detachment, who will shortly be going to Canada on the annual Cadet Exchange. In time, he will succeed Cadet CSM Hoyle when she leaves the Cadet Force later this year. His most recent achievement was as a member of the County’s highly successful Cambrian Patrol Team.

Do you have what it takes to serve with GMACF, either as an Adult Volunteer or as a Cadet? Are you looking for an opportunity to work hard and develop new skills? If so, why not contact GMACF County HQ on 01204 512600.

Greater Manchester Army Cadet Force can also be found in other locations on the Internet